This report discusses the following topics on the effect radiation has on thermonuclear reactor materials: Atomic Displacements; Microstructure Evolution; Materials Engineering, Mechanics, and Design; Research on Low-Activation Steels; and Research Motivated by Grant Support.

Catalytic studies on a new method for methanol synthesis from CO and H{sub 2} in a slurry reactor are described. This reaction proceeds through the carbonylation of methanol to methyl formate in the liquid phase followed by hydrogenolysis of methyl formate to two molecules of methanol; the net result is the reaction of CO with H{sub 2} to give methanol. Moderate temperatures and pressures (100--160{degrees}C, 50--65 atm) are used. Reaction rates using mixed catalysts comprised of an alkali methoxide and Cu-chromite are presented. It seems likely that Cu-chromite maintains the activity of the alkali methoxide catalyst. A mixed catalyst comprised of potassium methoxide and Cu-chromite was found to be the most active under the reaction conditions used. Evidence is provided for an interaction between the alkali methoxide and Cu-chromite. 27 refs., 6 figs., 2 tabs.

Scientific results are summarized from a three year research program on multiphoton ionization in aromatic molecules, clusters, and their ions. As originally proposed, the studies elucidated a new cluster ionization mechanism, characterized properties of long range intermolecular interactions, and investigated electronic transitions of aromatic cations cooled in a supersonic beam. The studies indicate that the new cluster ionization mechanism is highly efficient and dominates conventional 1 + 1 resonant ionization. In the case of the dimer of the large aromatic molecule fluorene, the results suggest that excimer formation competes with a direct ionization process. Highly selective excitonic spectra have been identified for several cluster species.